Jump to content

Picking a Free to Play Archetype


Pattern Ghost

Recommended Posts

I haven't really sat down and tried to learn to play CO since it's gone FTP, but figured I may start a new character today. I've only got access to the 8 free to play archetypes: Inferno, Mind, Grimoire, Marksman, Glacier, Blade, Behemoth, Soldier.

 

Are any of these better designed overall than the others?

 

Are any of these so badly designed that they should be avoided?

 

Are any of these early bloomers or late bloomers? I prefer early, since I'll probably level fairly slowly.

 

Are any particularly suited to or unsuited to solo play? I prefer solo capability, since I play for very short sessions a lot of the time due to the medical stuff.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Picking a Free to Play Archetype

 

Grimoire has been the most useful solo play character I have. They have a strong attack and the ability to heal themselves (and others). Their glyph power distracts most NPCs from directly attacking the grimoire. My son and best friend have had a fair bit of luck with the Inferno. They are not very damage resistant but they are apparently a very high DPS character. I have played every archetype, but have had little luck with the Marksman or Soldier. I solo'ed a Behemoth up to about 20th level and a Blade around the same level. My grimoire got to about 25th level before I got bored with the gameplay and moved on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Picking a Free to Play Archetype

 

I haven't really sat down and tried to learn to play CO since it's gone FTP, but figured I may start a new character today. I've only got access to the 8 free to play archetypes: Inferno, Mind, Grimoire, Marksman, Glacier, Blade, Behemoth, Soldier.

 

Are any of these better designed overall than the others?

 

Are any of these so badly designed that they should be avoided?

 

Are any of these early bloomers or late bloomers? I prefer early, since I'll probably level fairly slowly.

 

Are any particularly suited to or unsuited to solo play? I prefer solo capability, since I play for very short sessions a lot of the time due to the medical stuff.

 

This really depends on your style of game play. If you want to avoid danger and lay down damage the Solider is your single target choice and Inferno is the AOE choice. If you want to get close and be able to take a beating avoid the Blade, the Behemoth is a classic brick and the Glacier adds in control elements for a more thoughtful style of play. The Mind, Grimoire and Marksman all are ranged characters that use various tricks and like the Glacier require more thoughtful play. I've had people tell me their Mind character was all but unstoppable and others that are dead consistently. Blade is one of the more interesting Archetypes they throw out a ton of melee damage but you need to know how to break combat and escape as necessary due to a lack of defense.

 

One thing that will be key to any Archetype is usable items. Once you are out of the tutorial and choose a crafting type you'll be able to create things like medical packs or shields and these can help greatly to increase the survivability of any of the Archetypes. Unfortunately, this isn't something I think about a great deal as I tend to rely support powers so I can't really point you towards which way to go here. Although, I've heard Science may have some of the better crafted heals.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Picking a Free to Play Archetype

 

Thanks! That's some good info. I've already converted my one character who was basically going to be a flying brick to a Behemoth. I think I'll just try a few of the other choices for my other character slot(s).

 

Is the Specialist worth buying? I have one character I like the costume on that I wanted to convert, but want the two guns. Provided it doesn't suck too badly. I'd have to buy at least a small bundle of points to get it though. I only have the 400 they give you for doing the tutorial or whatever. (You still can't get points in game, right?)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Picking a Free to Play Archetype

 

Thanks! That's some good info. I've already converted my one character who was basically going to be a flying brick to a Behemoth. I think I'll just try a few of the other choices for my other character slot(s).

 

Is the Specialist worth buying? I have one character I like the costume on that I wanted to convert, but want the two guns. Provided it doesn't suck too badly. I'd have to buy at least a small bundle of points to get it though. I only have the 400 they give you for doing the tutorial or whatever. (You still can't get points in game, right?)

 

I think you can get points in game

At least each character that went through the beginner zone got 400...

I could be wrong

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Picking a Free to Play Archetype

 

Thanks! That's some good info. I've already converted my one character who was basically going to be a flying brick to a Behemoth. I think I'll just try a few of the other choices for my other character slot(s).

 

Is the Specialist worth buying? I have one character I like the costume on that I wanted to convert, but want the two guns. Provided it doesn't suck too badly. I'd have to buy at least a small bundle of points to get it though. I only have the 400 they give you for doing the tutorial or whatever. (You still can't get points in game, right?)

 

Really mixed reviews on the Specialist, and not to sound like a jerk but this is one of those Archetypes that gets held up as an example of why characters need those other 3 powers. Individually there's noting really wrong with the Specialist's powers. However, the Archetype really lacks something to make those powers cohesive such as Dragon's Wrath and really choosing between Lock N Load over Masterful Dodge is just mean.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Picking a Free to Play Archetype

 

Thanks. Maybe another archetype would work better for the character. Is there a way to edit your existing costume in game? I'm thinking I can get rid of the pistols on the costume to make it fit another archetype better.

 

 

@Enforcer84: I just put a new character through the starter zone. I went from 400 points (for the first/existing character, or maybe just got that because I used to have a subscription) to 480 points. So, it's possible to grind points through the starting zone be creating/deleting a character in one slot. It's probably much more cost effective to go earn the money to buy some points, but it looks like it's possible to at least grind out some, if slowly. About to make a new character and go through again, to see if it'll work.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Picking a Free to Play Archetype

 

Thanks. Maybe another archetype would work better for the character. Is there a way to edit your existing costume in game? I'm thinking I can get rid of the pistols on the costume to make it fit another archetype better.

 

What's the character concept or what are you trying to do?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Picking a Free to Play Archetype

 

Nothing super interesting. Just a hard suit/stealthy type character with high tech gear, inspired by Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex. So, shiny metal tech armor with the single lens face mask, tech backpack and a couple of pistols.

 

I was thinking about the psychic/energy blades or another weapon set instead. Weapon doesn't really matter much, just something high-techish.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Picking a Free to Play Archetype

 

Nothing super interesting. Just a hard suit/stealthy type character with high tech gear, inspired by Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex. So, shiny metal tech armor with the single lens face mask, tech backpack and a couple of pistols.

 

I was thinking about the psychic/energy blades or another weapon set instead. Weapon doesn't really matter much, just something high-techish.

 

Based on that a few come to mind:

Silver:

The Blade with Smoke Bomb, both Inexorable Tides and Masterful dodge are awesome powers so that's a preference thing both are great at adding survivability. My play style I'd lean towards Inexorable Tides.

The Solider, although this lacks a stealth element most of the Archetypes will.

 

Gold:

The Disciple with Ego Blade Breach and Mental Discipline, this is mostly based on your commentary. Here I would Talent and slot for Dexterity as a stat for improved critical hits.

The Impulse, this build can go many different ways but Force just strikes me as high tech weapons.

The Inventor with Munition Bots, although let me say I've heard this is a tough build and draws a ton of aggro based on it's Slotted Passive.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Picking a Free to Play Archetype

 

Ok, I decided to go with an overall theme of Golden Age/classic heroes. So, armored type is out. Screenshots of my characters are in the sticky thread for character names. (Did Steve ever get a Hero supergroup started btw?)

 

I've decided on Behemoth and Grimoire for my two free to play classes. I bought 3k points, and picked up the three adventure packs, two more character slots, a moon base, the Golden Age costume pack, and the Inventor archetype.

 

I like my Inventor so far. The secondary effects on the attacks are nice, and so is the fact that you can move while charging both the single target and cone attack. The healing nanites at 8 were nice. I put my first Advantage points into leveling them up. The power set looks like it's pretty well balanced and will be fun for solo play. Not to mention turning your enemies into teddy bears is fun.

 

I picked Behemoth for my melee character, because they seem to hold up much better than the squishies, and the damage doesn't (at least at level 6-7) feel like it's much less.

 

I went with Grimoire for my third slot, because it looks like it has a lot of the same strengths as the Inventor, and playing characters with a good number of options is always fun.

 

Saving my fourth slot for buying another archetype later. I probably won't heavily invest in the cash shop (in it for 3k pts now), but I'll likely pick up a couple more bases, the pulp costume pack when it comes out, and another archetype (or two) once I get the first three leveled up. Probably pick up adventure packs too, depending on how much I like the first three. I keep reading that they're a bit better overall than the standard content.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Picking a Free to Play Archetype

 

Content wise, with regards to the Adventure Packs, they are more of a challenge and as such offer some of the best rewards in the game (on Elite difficulty). To speak about narrative though Serpent Lantern is a bit grindy but worth playing though, make sure to read everything and Demonflame and Resistance get progressively better. While not necessary you should play through Serpent Lantern and Demonflame before running Aftershock, which, in my opinion, is by far one of the most compelling stories the CO team has put together. Although (and has the best replay value due to story paths), Resistance has some truly awesome moments.

 

To go back to Serpent Lantern for just a minute, if you are the farming type, this is the definitive Adventure Pack, you can quickly pick up rare gear that blows all the non-AP stuff away.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...